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Mike Tomlin was hired as Steelers HC in January 2007, to a team that was, by and large, pretty solid across the board. Given that the Steelers have never been big FA players, not much was expected during the FA period- and the Steelers didn't disappoint. The 'big' FA signing was Sean Mahan, brought in to be the starting OC. Now, Mahan's success, or lack of it, is well documented. But what is interesting is that the Steelers identified an area on the roster that needed upgrading, and the Steelers went about trying to fix it through FA. Anthony Madison & Andre Frasier were also brought in, and both proceeded to hold ST's roles for a few seasons with the Steelers.2008 saw the Steelers bring in a few extra FA's than 2007- Byron Leftwich, Mewelde Moore, Keyaron Fox and Justin Hartwig. OK, let's be honest- none of these guys are 'big name signings', but once again, like Mahan previously, these guys were brought in for specific roles. In fact, Hartwig makes it 2 years from 2 that the Steelers sign a FA to fill a starters role.2009 saw the Steelers bring in a few more FA's, and once again, no big name guys among them- Joey Galloway, Sean McDonald, Keiwan Ratliffe and Alex Stepanovich. Unlike previous years, none of these FA's were signed to become starters, and to be honest, they really didn't contribute much. It would seem that the year after winning a SB, the team was more focused on retaining it's OL guys like Starks, Colon & Kemoeatu.2010- the 2009 season was one of disappointment, resulting in the Steelers going 9-7 and missing the playoffs. The result in FA was that the Steelers got more active, signing several FA's including Antwaan Randle-El, Arnaz Battle, Shaun Suisham, Flozell Adams, Jonathon Scott, Larry Foote and Will Allen. While only Suisham was signed to be a starter, at various points of the season Adams, Scott & Foote contributed as starters. This might be the season to use as a guide- the Steelers combated missing the playoffs by bringing in greater depth & competition through FA without really breaking the bank on any 1 player. The result of this? The Steelers returned to the SB, only to lose this time.2011 saw the Steelers go back to being part players in FA, signing only Jerricho Cotchery of any note. That said, Cotchery is another example of the level of FA the Steelers tend o bring in- a low budget role player.2012 didn't bring too many big name FA's once again. Leonard Pope & Brandon Johnson were low budget players brought in to add depth, and as the year went on Plexico Burress, Josh Victorian & Demarcus Van Dyke were added to the roster. Victorian was possibly the biggest FA contributor last season.

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Ok, wow... that last post was ugly to read- sorry guys, that's what you get for working off an I-Pad apparently..

There are, of course, 2 sides to every goof FA history story- the guys you sign (covered previously), and the guys you lose or re-sign. The Steelers have proven to be... frugal... at signing other teams FA's, but how have they gone with losing or keeping their own?

In 2007, the Steelers lost John Kuhn, Sean Morey, Tim Euhus, Marvin Philip, Rodney Bailey & Joey Porter to other teams. While losing a guy like Porter would normally be considered a bad loss, the Steelers made no real play at keeping Joey as they had already decided to move forward with James Harrison. So really, the lost players to other teams was very minimal. As for re-signing, Max Starks, Najeh Davenport, Tyrone Carter & Brian St Pierre were retained. Starks was a starter, Carter & Davenport had non-starting roles, but both were contributors. All in all, the Steelers really lost nobody of significance to FA, but retained those FA's that played roles for the team.

2008 saw the Steelers part ways with Alan Faneca, Clark Haggans, Brian St Pierre & Allen Rossum in FA to other teams. On paper, that looks bad, but history will tell us that no effort was made to retain Haggans who was replaced by Woodley, and Chris Kemoeatu promoted by the Steelers to replace Faneca with no real effort made to keep him on the roster. So again, while the Steelers lost some 'big name' FA's, it was really more a planned progression more than any team taking players from the Steelers. Trai Essex, Nick Eason & Travis Kirschke were all re-signed - all 3 guys were part of the DL/OL rotation. What we see, 2 years in a row, is the Steelers not losing players they want to keep.

In 2009 the Steelers actually lost a number of players to other teams- Byron Leftwich, Nate Washington, Najeh Davenport, Anthony Madison & Bryant McFadden. In fact, it's quite possible to make the argument that Nate Washington is the most successful post-Steeler in modern NFL history. But again, while the Steelers lost these players- only McFadden was considered a starter, and he was phased out by Willie Gay anyhow. The Steelers managed to re-sign Max Starks, Willie Colon, Chris Kemoeatu, Charlie Batch & Keyaron Fox- all either starters or primary back-ups. Once again, the Steelers did a great job of keeping those they wanted to keep.

History repeats itself again in 2010- the Steelers lose a few players to other teams- Deshea Townsend, Willie Parker, Jeff Reed & Carey Davis, but with the exception of Reed (who had been playing the part of lunatic rather well at this point) all these players were lost with the progression plan in place- Willie Gay moved up to starter, Rashard Mendenhall stepped in for Parker.. On the other hand, the Steelers re-signed Ben, Charlie Batch, Willie Colon, Nick Eason, Casey Hampton, Willie Gay & Ryan Clark- 5 starters & 2 back-ups. Once again, the Steelers did a great job of not losing the guys they want to keep.

2011 saw the Steelers lose Matt Speath, Keyaron Fox, Nick Eason & Crezdon Butler. With perhaps the exception of Speath, the Steelers already had replacements for each of these players on the roster. On the other hand, Mewelde Moore, Willie Colon, Shaun Suisham, Lawrence Timmons, Ike Taylor, Willie Gay, Jon Scott & Troy Polamalu were retained. By now, Chadman is sure we are starting to see the pattern forming..

Lastly- 2012. Lost from the Steelers to other teams were Willie Gay, Wes Saunders, Toney Clemons & Jamon Meredith. Retained by the Steelers were Byron Leftwich, Max Starks, Ryan Mundy & Doug Legursky. Remembering that Keenan Lewis was scheduled to step in as starter, Saunders was cut & Clemons was nicked off the PS, only Jamon Meredith was really 'taken away' from the Steelers.

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Originally Posted by supersteeler

Again,
The Steelers only have money to shop at K-mart not Saks of fifth Ave.

Agreed, but they were in the same position last year, and are tight against the cap nearly every year. The key is that th Steelers rarely,if ever, lose players they have not planned on replacing. The question is, who have they prepared to lose this season?

Certainly there is a progression plan in place for Max Starks, with 2 second round OT's brought into the team in 2 years. And if the Steelers were to move on from James Harrison, the Steelers have Worilds in the wings ready to stp in. Foster is covered by DeCastro. Does Allen cover Lewis? How hard will they try to re-sign Lewis as a result? Sanders replaces Wallace? McLendon replaces Hampton?

The 2 positions where the Steelers have FA's that do't apper to have a 'ready to step in replacement' are at RB & at ILB. Now, the Steelers might feel Spence is the future, but coming back from injury, Chadman is not convinced they'll turn it over to him right away. At RB, the Steelers will tender both Dwyer & Redman, but they have given no indication that either is the long-term solution, in fact Colbert even identified them as an area that needs improvement.

Chadman's point- look for the Steelers to re-sign Foote to hold ILB for Spence until he is ready, and look for a low-range upgrade in FA at RB. It would not surprise Chadman if th Steelers make very little real effort to sign Starks, and if the dollars are not there, the Steelers won't mortgage the future for Lewis if they have a guy ready to step in like Cortez Allen. Given the way the Steelers have done business in the past, some back-up type players that can help on ST's might also be brought in at low cost.

One thing Chadman has not brought up yet- the Steelers very rarely, if ever, go into a Draft without some kind of solution in place for every roster spot. That is to say, the Steelers will not have a genuine opening at a starting spot prior to the draft.

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Originally Posted by Chadman

Agreed, but they were in the same position last year, and are tight against the cap nearly every year. The key is that th Steelers rarely,if ever, lose players they have not planned on replacing. The question is, who have they prepared to lose this season?

Certainly there is a progression plan in place for Max Starks, with 2 second round OT's brought into the team in 2 years. And if the Steelers were to move on from James Harrison, the Steelers have Worilds in the wings ready to stp in. Foster is covered by DeCastro. Does Allen cover Lewis? How hard will they try to re-sign Lewis as a result? Sanders replaces Wallace? McLendon replaces Hampton?

The 2 positions where the Steelers have FA's that do't apper to have a 'ready to step in replacement' are at RB & at ILB. Now, the Steelers might feel Spence is the future, but coming back from injury, Chadman is not convinced they'll turn it over to him right away. At RB, the Steelers will tender both Dwyer & Redman, but they have given no indication that either is the long-term solution, in fact Colbert even identified them as an area that needs improvement.

Chadman's point- look for the Steelers to re-sign Foote to hold ILB for Spence until he is ready, and look for a low-range upgrade in FA at RB. It would not surprise Chadman if th Steelers make very little real effort to sign Starks, and if the dollars are not there, the Steelers won't mortgage the future for Lewis if they have a guy ready to step in like Cortez Allen. Given the way the Steelers have done business in the past, some back-up type players that can help on ST's might also be brought in at low cost.

One thing Chadman has not brought up yet- the Steelers very rarely, if ever, go into a Draft without some kind of solution in place for every roster spot. That is to say, the Steelers will not have a genuine opening at a starting spot prior to the draft.

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One name that comes to mind when you look at the FA RB's that might fit a need for the Steelers is former Seahawks/Texan RB Justin Forsett. He's not about to command starting money, he is a ready made replacement for Chris Rainey, and he gives the Steelers something they don't already have- speed at RB.

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A couple of other names that pop out to Chadman as low-priced contributors that the Steelers could target are TE Chris Cooley, who could fill in for Heath until he is ready to go again, Will Svitek the OT from the Falcons who used to play for Haley at the Chiefs, OLB Antwan Applewhite from the Panthers- particularly if Harrison is released and Worilds moves up in the roster order, Stanford Routt who was scheduled to come in for a visit after Taylor went down, but signed with the Texans a day earlier, and lastly, Chadman's favourite FA Safety- Patrick Chung from the Patriots, who plays with a barely contained fury on the field. He might cost more than the others, but if the Steelers wanted a FS to replace Clark in a year or so.... He might be worth a shot.

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Originally Posted by Chadman

A couple of other names that pop out to Chadman as low-priced contributors that the Steelers could target are TE Chris Cooley, who could fill in for Heath until he is ready to go again, Will Svitek the OT from the Falcons who used to play for Haley at the Chiefs, OLB Antwan Applewhite from the Panthers- particularly if Harrison is released and Worilds moves up in the roster order, Stanford Routt who was scheduled to come in for a visit after Taylor went down, but signed with the Texans a day earlier, and lastly, Chadman's favourite FA Safety- Patrick Chung from the Patriots, who plays with a barely contained fury on the field. He might cost more than the others, but if the Steelers wanted a FS to replace Clark in a year or so.... He might be worth a shot.

I would like to see the possibility of Chris Cooley, he was a reliable TE for the Skins but I don't know about his health.

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I would like to see the possibility of Chris Cooley, he was a reliable TE for the Skins but I don't know about his health.

Health is obviously an issue- but when Fred Davis went down, Cooley was healthy enough to sign & play right away.

Thing is, Cooley wouldn't need to offer a full season of health to be valuable- he'd essentially be cover for Heath until he comes back into the side. But he is a pure pass catcher, and runs good routes- no doubt Haley could make use of that.